2025 College Football Playoffs

[Bane]

The either A) performative or B) dumb media reaction every week really is something.

Heather Dinich and others are shocked by Notre Dame over Alabama. The AP did it two days ago. You’re really that surprised? That is not even mentioning the underlying reason I mentioned days ago to do it.

Then there is the absolutely shock of valuing quality losses. That has really stumped folks. Oh you mean the TV show is basically encouraging you to schedule and possibly lose higher tv rated games in future years? That the network aligned with the SEC wants to value quality losses, the conference most likely to repeatedly have multi loss teams?

And all of the above roughly aligns with most power ratings, even the old BCS system?

This all seems so transparently obvious I don’t know which media members are just performing for clicks or plain stupid.

It's very tedious to watch media members who are paid to cover CFB and have been covering it for years act like they just started watching CFB this season. They may or may not be stupid, but the legions of idiots on social media who listen to them are stupid and it's draining to have to scroll through slightly different iterations of "WHY EVEN PLAY THE GAMES??? WHAT ARE WE EVEN TALKING ABOUT?? DID YOU KNOW MIAMI WON HEAD TO HEAD??????" over and over again. Now to make matters worse, the fanbase that wailed for months about missing the playoffs last year with 3 losses, Alabama, has joined in has started their moaning and weeping. My twitter algorithm is more annoying now than it was last November during the Goddamn presidential election.

 

[Bane]

Everyone who screams, "It's not fair!" fails to see the auto bids. Like how the F is Tulane getting in? Or the weak ACC champion? You want fair-take the top 12, regardless of what conference their in.

Yes, the autobids need to go. Honestly, the SEC and B1G could make it happen. At the very least, they needed to be limited to the top 2 conference champions. That is a way more honest assessment of the relative strength of the conferences anyways.

 

[NumbersGuy0520]

Are you saying that if ND runs into OSU in the quarters that they can’t make it back?

Again at some point we’re going to have to get over this OSU hump, guys. Why don’t we catch them sleeping when they’ve had a month off?

Shying away from them sounds a lot like SC fans wanting out of the ND series. Put the ball down and let’s fucking go. If we get beat we get beat but this isn’t 2012. We belong.

We do belong. And we need to get over the OSU hump. And we have the potential to beat OSU.

But people were also saying stuff like this last year while OSU was playing Texas for a spot in the natty. That it doesn’t matter and if we want to be the best, we have to beat the best.

But honestly, give us that Texas natty matchup. Give us the path PSU had going into the semis last year.

The reality is our Notre Dame team will fight their damndest in any matchup they find themselves in, but not all paths to the trophy are the same and I think it’s fair to want the one that’s most beneficial to our Irish.

 

[Wild Bill]

The only way ND gets left out is if the committee’s hands are tied imo. The one scenario I see is bama wins the SECCG, and either BYU or Utah wins the Big 12 while everyone else in front of ND holds. Texas Tech would drop after losing but not far enough to fall behind ND. Bama jump ND, pushes ND to 10, the Big 12 champ takes 10 spot, ACC champ takes 11, and group of 5 takes 12.

It’s not an entirely crazy scenario, but it would take that PLUS Ole Miss, Oregon, Oklahoma and bama have to win out. NumbersGuy can run the math, but it basically sounds like a 12 leg parlay has to hit to keep ND out.

 

[ulukinatme]

Give me chaos...as long as the chaos doesn't jeopardize a spot. Hopefully chaos opens up the home field hosting.

 

[arndtjc]

It’s fair to want the one that’s most beneficial to our Irish.

The separation between 1 and 4 isn’t going to be all that great. You’re going to have to beat an ELITE team to get into the semis regardless. No one gave ND a chance vs. UGA last year, and are we not sure we aren’t better overall than them again? There isn’t a team in the rankings who scares me, I believe ND has the dudes to beat anyone.

I don’t care what helmets are lined up across from the shiniest in all the game. I just want ND to play four playoff games, just like everyone else

 

[IRISHDODGER]

It's very tedious to watch media members who are paid to cover CFB and have been covering it for years act like they just started watching CFB this season. They may or may not be stupid, but the legions of idiots on social media who listen to them are stupid and it's draining to have to scroll through slightly different iterations of "WHY EVEN PLAY THE GAMES??? WHAT ARE WE EVEN TALKING ABOUT?? DID YOU KNOW MIAMI WON HEAD TO HEAD??????" over and over again. Now to make matters worse, the fanbase that wailed for months about missing the playoffs last year with 3 losses, Alabama, has joined in has started their moaning and weeping. My twitter algorithm is more annoying now than it was last November during the Goddamn presidential election.

This shows the lack of historical knowledge of the younger folks covering CFB & the convenient forgetfulness of those covering CFB in the poll eras (which weren’t that long ago). Every ND fan on this board old enough to recall the 1993 season clearly remembers head-to-head NOT mattering in the final poll. Despite ND beating FSU head-to-head & both ending w/ the same record incl their bowl wins, FSU was voted by the AP & the Coaches Poll as NC.

Then you have beta males like Dan Wolken covering CFB who stated Meatchicken was clearly the better team than ND back in 2018 despite ND beating them head-to-head in the season opener. Kirk Herbstreit was the most vocal advocate of scUM over ND that year. I wish folks (specifically media members w/ character) other than ND fans would hold these fools responsible for their hypocrisy.

 

[ColoradoIrish]

We have the best RB tandem in the country, one of the best QBs, the top secondary unit and one of the best defenses. Give me any team, any time. We've proven we can hang/beat anyone. Yes OSU is the monkey on our back currently, but screw em. This isnt the ND teams of the 90s, 00s, and 10s. The players and coaches believe we can beat anyone so should we

 

[Wild Bill]

The separation between 1 and 4 isn’t going to be all that great. You’re going to have to beat an ELITE team to get into the semis regardless. No one gave ND a chance vs. UGA last year, and are we not sure we aren’t better overall than them again? There isn’t a team in the rankings who scares me, I believe ND has the dudes to beat anyone.

I don’t care what helmets are lined up across from the shiniest in all the game. I just want ND to play four playoff games, just like everyone else

I get your point - probably have to beat them to win but it's possible ND can win while someone else takes em out. We're desperate pal. I'll enjoy a title the easy way - won't make it any less satisfying.

The separation between 1 and 4 if it's Ohio State at 1 and let's say ole miss at 4 would be huge. Probably a 7 point dog to OSU and a 4 point favorite against Ole Miss.

ND was favored going into the Georgia game last year so the right people not only gave ND chance, they expected ND to win.

 

[GATTACA!]

Are you saying that if ND runs into OSU in the quarters that they can’t make it back?

Again at some point we’re going to have to get over this OSU hump, guys. Why don’t we catch them sleeping when they’ve had a month off?

Shying away from them sounds a lot like SC fans wanting out of the ND series. Put the ball down and let’s fucking go. If we get beat we get beat but this isn’t 2012. We belong.

No what I’m saying is if you feel like a matchup with OSU is inevitable I’ll take it in the championship game instead of round 2. That way in the worst case scenario where we lose at least we will have made it to the natty again. That will help with optics and recruiting going forward more than the former.

 

[GATTACA!]

The only way ND gets left out is if the committee’s hands are tied imo. The one scenario I see is bama wins the SECCG, and either BYU or Utah wins the Big 12 while everyone else in front of ND holds. Texas Tech would drop after losing but not far enough to fall behind ND. Bama jump ND, pushes ND to 10, the Big 12 champ takes 10 spot, ACC champ takes 11, and group of 5 takes 12.

It’s not an entirely crazy scenario, but it would take that PLUS Ole Miss, Oregon, Oklahoma and bama have to win out. NumbersGuy can run the math, but it basically sounds like a 12 leg parlay has to hit to keep ND out.

Even in that case I'd bet they drop TTU out. $$$$

 

[ulukinatme]

No what I’m saying is if you feel like a matchup with OSU is inevitable I’ll take it in the championship game instead of round 2. That way in the worst case scenario where we lose again at least we will have made it to the natty again. That will help with optics and recruiting going forward more than the former.

Agree, I would rather face OSU in the big one again than 2nd round. I feel like last season's playoff run was the most uplifting season I've experienced as a fan from memory, I was too young in '88 to remember the last championship. Not only did we win our first playoff game finally (Make that 3), but we knocked out the SEC champ along the way, #2 and #3 B1G teams, AND we got the January 1st big bowl monkey off our back after years of futility. The only way it could have been better was beating OSU, but with all the injuries I just didn't see it happening. I think we've got a better shot this year.

 

[stlnd01]

Even in that case I'd bet they drop TTU out. $$$$

It is indeed hard to envision a two-loss Texas Tech getting an at-large bid over us. Their best wins are Utah and BYU, one of whom would have just presumably beaten them in the Big 12 title game. And they are Texas Tech while we are Notre Dame.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Seems like the committee is penalizing teams for bad losses more so even if they have better wins. So say we were 8-2 right now with a win against A&M but a loss to Miami and Pitt. We would probally be ranked 13-15

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Did you forget they place in the SEC, SEC, SEC? lol

With 12 teams ranked in the top 25 the SEC is gonna get as many teams in as they can so they have the. Est chance to win a Champ because SEC. And when they play each other both ranked teams get the benefit for a quality win or a quality loss. lol.

 

[Irish#1]

How funny would it be if Navy got the 12 spot and made the No.5 team spend their entire extra rest weeks preparing for the triple option.

One can dream.

 

[arrowryan]

Chris Fallica is way dumber than I thought he was. Good Lord.

 

[Irish#1]

I get OSU is good, but are they that good? I think we're better than last year and I don't think OSU is as good as they were last year. I would prefer to meet them in the NCG, but strictly because of the "Wow" factor and credibility of beating the #1 team in the NCG. It would do more for NDFB than beating any other team in the NCG.

Their schedule isn't a juggernaut.
Texas 14-7
Grambling 70-0
Ohio 37-9
@Washington 24-6
Minnesota 42-3
@Illinois 34-16
@Wisconsin 34-0
Penn St 38-14
@Purdue 34-10
UCLA 48-10
Rutgers
@scUM

 

[arrowryan]

I get OSU is good, but are they that good? I think we're better than last year and I don't think OSU is as good as they were last year. I would prefer to meet them in the NCG, but strictly because of the "Wow" factor and credibility of beating the #1 team in the NCG. It would do more for NDFB than beating any other team in the NCG.

Their schedule isn't a juggernaut.
Texas 14-7
Grambling 70-0
Ohio 37-9
@Washington 24-6
Minnesota 42-3
@Illinois 34-16
@Wisconsin 34-0
Penn St 38-14
@Purdue 34-10
UCLA 48-10
Rutgers
@scUM

Their schedule is mega ass, but it’s not their fault Texas stinks. They’ve dominated their opponents, which is all you can ask them to do.

 

[General Colon Bowel]

I get OSU is good, but are they that good? I think we're better than last year and I don't think OSU is as good as they were last year. I would prefer to meet them in the NCG, but strictly because of the "Wow" factor and credibility of beating the #1 team in the NCG. It would do more for NDFB than beating any other team in the NCG.

Their schedule isn't a juggernaut.
Texas 14-7
Grambling 70-0
Ohio 37-9
@Washington 24-6
Minnesota 42-3
@Illinois 34-16
@Wisconsin 34-0
Penn St 38-14
@Purdue 34-10
UCLA 48-10
Rutgers
@scUM

Agreed. They're certainly a good team, but it's really hard to know just how good they are given the schedule.

Looking at those scores, their D looks incredible. Except when you dig into it, they missed all three Big10 teams with top 10 offenses (Oregon, Indiana, USC), the highest scoring offense they've played is Washington (24th nationally), and they've played four teams with sub-100 scoring offenses.

Any fear of them being unbeatable is somewhat unfounded until we see how they do in the conference championship game imo.

 

[GowerND11]

I don’t think I saw this posted.

I’m convinced the committee just uses the computers, then changes a team or two on their rankings to avoid plagiarism…

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I don't want ND to be 8 or 9. That's really it.

 

[MPClinton22]

This shows the lack of historical knowledge of the younger folks covering CFB & the convenient forgetfulness of those covering CFB in the poll eras (which weren’t that long ago). Every ND fan on this board old enough to recall the 1993 season clearly remembers head-to-head NOT mattering in the final poll. Despite ND beating FSU head-to-head & both ending w/ the same record incl their bowl wins, FSU was voted by the AP & the Coaches Poll as NC.

Then you have beta males like Dan Wolken covering CFB who stated Meatchicken was clearly the better team than ND back in 2018 despite ND beating them head-to-head in the season opener. Kirk Herbstreit was the most vocal advocate of scUM over ND that year. I wish folks (specifically media members w/ character) other than ND fans would hold these fools responsible for their hypocrisy.

2018 was especially egregious because we were UNDEFEATED AND had the head to head against them. That entire narrative was so ridiculous

 

[Huntr]

I've told you guys about this dude before. His modelling basically nails the CFP rankings every week.





edit: for reference, here's what he said about Miami:

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Everyone who screams, "It's not fair!" fails to see the auto bids. Like how the F is Tulane getting in? Or the weak ACC champion? You want fair-take the top 12, regardless of what conference their in.

I agree with this. I held out as long as I could with tradition. But the genie is out of the bottle and he's not going back in. Blow this all up, get rid of conference affiliation and the politicking that goes along with it, and get rid of conference-affiliated officials. Create a huge super conference with divisions, let the games be played, then rank the top 12 or top 16 accordingly. No BS.

The auto bids, the bitching and moaning, the politicking, etc....it's ruining the sport, imo.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I’m not a conspiracy theorist…but if any coach would be apt to throw a game if it would hurt ND, it would be Duzz.

They still have their own chance to make the playoff...this is a wild take lol

 

[lcaps20]

I usually don't mind Joel Klatt, but he was doing his reaction show this morning and playing out the scenario where SC beats Oregon this weekend. He thinks Oregon drops to like 11 and was then going on about how Oregon would compare favorably to Notre Dame and should probably be ranked ahead of them.

In what world is that even close???? Oregon's best win would be....Iowa and they would have a loss to a team at home that ND beat by 10. I had to go back and relisten because I was so shocked that he even said it.

 

[irish2104]

Klatt has become a shrill for the Big 10 with the fox sports tie in.. everything he says is colored through if it is good or bad for big 10

 

[rtrn2glory]

I'm ok falling to 10 if we're not going to be home. 7 or 6 would be great, but not convinced that is a possibility at this point.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Fine playing OU in round one. Not fine playing tOSU in round 2.

Just want to be out of the 8-9 slots in the end. Whoever and wherever they play at that point isn't a killer to me. Being 8 or 9 is